Central station (CTA Purple Line)

Central is a Purple Line station of the Chicago Transit Authority 'L' system. Located at 1024 Central Street in Evanston, Illinois (directional coordinates 2600 north, 1000 west), the elevated platform sits above Central Street, half a block west of Ridge Avenue. The station itself, a Beaux-Arts structure designed by noted transit architect Arthur Gerber, is on the south side of Central Street and is entered at street level, with an auxiliary exit on the north side of the street.[2]

For other stations on the CTA system named Central, see Central (CTA).
Central
 
2600N
1000W
Chicago 'L' rapid transit station
General information
Location1024 Central Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
Coordinates42.063950°N 87.685742°W / 42.063950; -87.685742
Owned byChicago Transit Authority
Line(s)Evanston Branch
Platforms1 Island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsCTA bus
Construction
Structure typeElevated
History
OpenedMay 16, 1908
Rebuilt1931
Passengers
2022125,062[1] Increase 13.1%
Services
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station
Linden
Terminus
 Purple Line Noyes
toward Howard or Loop
(Clark/Lake)
Former services
Preceding station Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad Following station
Linden
toward North Chicago Junction
 North Shore Line
Shore Line Route
 Noyes
toward Roosevelt Road
Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station
Llewellyn Park
Terminus
 Chicago – Evanston Noyes Street
towards Chicago
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station
Isabella
Closed 1973
toward Linden
 Evanston Line Noyes
toward Howard
Location

History

Structure

The station was built close by to landmarks that include the Evanston Hospital and offices of NorthShore University HealthSystem, an Evanston fire station, Canal Shores Golf Course, and Chandler Newburger Recreation Center. Ryan Field, home of the Northwestern University Wildcats football team, and Welsh-Ryan Arena, home of Northwestern's basketball team, are a few blocks west of the station. Just west of Ryan Field on the north side of the street is the locally famous hot dog stand, Mustard's Last Stand. A few blocks further west is the Central Street station on Metra's Union Pacific North Line. Less than a mile separate the two rail stations.

Former service
Footings for the former North Shore Line platform

Central was served by trains of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad on the Shore Line Route. Like Foster and Noyes, Central had an additional side platform to the west of the southbound track for exclusive use of the North Shore Line, to prevent disembarking customers from transferring to 'L' trains for free. The platform was removed sometime after the North Shore Line ceased operations over this section of the rapid transit system in 1955, but its concrete footings can still be seen opposite the current platform south of Central Street.

Bus connections

CTA

  • 201 Central/Ridge (Monday-Saturday only)

Notes and references
The Central station house in 2023

Notes

    References
    1. "Annual Ridership Report – Calendar Year 2022" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority, Ridership Analysis and Reporting. February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
    2. "Chicago "L".org: Stations - Central". Retrieved 2008-12-23.

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